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DAVID RUSSELL, OF LOGKPORT, NEW' YORK.

METHOD OF APPLYING- HORSE-POWER TO FIRE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,089, dated June 10, 1856.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID RUSSELL, of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, machinist, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire- Engines, which I have described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings with suflicient clearness to enable others of competent skill to make and use the same.

The driving mechanism or power for propelling my engine consists of the following parts: First; a xed circular track of wood and iron of dierent diameter, varying in accordance with the amount of power required; second; a shaft, on either end of which is placed a beveled gear and drive wheel to be placed in and attached to the frame work in the center of said circular track either above or below its level as the nature of the case may require; third; the attachment of a lever to the gear wheel end of the shaft by means of a purposely constructed traversing block which will permit the lever to turn o-n its own axis at the same time it is made to pass around its own center; said lever to extend from the center to beyond the track; fourth; the attachment to the lever directly over and on the said circular track an adhesive traversing wheel, which will cause said lever to turn on its own axis when it is propelled about its own center; fifth; a connection of the shaft and lever by means of a beveled gear wheel attached to the inner end of the lever and plying in the shaft pinion; sixth; the attachment of a fly-wheel to the lever just without the track for causing adhesion of the traversing wheel to the rail, accumulation of power and steadiness of motion.

My power fire engine consists in compactly arranging four force pumps, one main air-chamber and surplus receiver, and four assistant air-chambers in t-he center of this power in so simple a manner as to be worked with much greater efliciency, force and power than any other power fire engine yet before the public; and I have taken much care in arranging the valves that they may offer no obstruction to t-he free passage of the water through the various passages of the same; all of which, I have fully and plainly set forth in the accompanying drawings.

My invent-ion consists in the arrangement vt-he diameter of which should be from ten to twelve feet. for an engine; and the timbers for constructing it should be about three by four inches, and on t-he top of this circular track is attached in the usual manner a plate or bar of iron from two to three or four inches wide and half an inch thick on which the adhesive surface traversing wheel (3) is to roll. (B2) are the cross timbers from which the box is suspended in which the engine and power shaft is placed and secured. (J) is the wroughtiron lever, which should be in length about equal to the diameter of the track, and three inches in thickness, to which the horses are to be hitched (or any other power applied) by means of transferring the wagon tongue (K) to the strap (L) attached to the journal on the outer end of the same for that purpose. The inner end of the lever is connected by a double shouldered two inch concentric journal with the traversing block (12), which block is attached to and supported on the upper end of the main power shaft (14:) by a like two inch journal as shown in Fig. 8. (3) is the adhesive surface traversing wheel lof the power, either level or beveled from the center, and a little wider than the iron rail, and cast with eight arms, and tired with wrought iron, f

and to be from two to three feet in diameter. It is attached to or hung upon the lever and caused in part to adhere to the iron rail (2) by the weightof the fly wheel (M) hung upon the same lever by its side, and it rolls on the rail when the lever is propelled around its own center and gives motion and power to the machine. (7) is a bevel gear wheel sixteen inches in diameter constructed with eight arms set in two inches from the face to give ample room for t-he traversing block (12), and keyed upon the inner end of the lever to give motion and power to shaft (14) by gearing into the bevel spur wheel (8) eight inches in diameter and keyed on the upper end of said shaft. The diameter of the track intended for a portable power of this kind being too large for convenience of transportation from place to place I construct it in three parts and connect it together with heavy hinges (O) which admit the segments to be turned up and thereby diminish the width and allow it to move in less space without interfering with other objects. (d4) are the four force pumps eight inches in diameter with six inch stroke of piston, and (c2) are the cross heads which connect the upper ends of the piston rods. (g) is the suction pipe with six inch bore; and (i2) is the circuit-extension of the same aro-und under each pump. (e2) are the pipes of about three inch bore, which connect the pumps with the main air-chamber; and (a) is the main air chamber and surplus water receiver, from t-hree and a half to five feet in diameter, and the height to be dictated by the amount of power and force desired; with one foot aperture in the center for the main power shaft to pass through and connect with the lever above and the crank shaft below. (b2) are two of the four assistant air chambers from eight to twelve inches in diameter and to be connected with the suction pipe, or between the valves, or with the main air-chamber as may be required; and (h) is the discharge pipe or pipes with three inch bore. is the cover of the tool box, and (7c) is the top covering of the engine. The above proportion of parts may be varied as occasion may require and opinion dictate.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and (M) is a sectional view of thefly wheel, the arms of which should be curved as shown in the drawing to allow the rim to run closer to the track and more nearly over the traversing wheel; and thereby produce a more perfect balance and relieve the inner bearing of the lever from the upward 4pressure to which it would be otherwise subjected; and the rim of the y-wheel may be from live to ten feet in diameter and its weight four hundred pounds and upward, in proportion to the width of the iron rail and amount of resisting force or power required; and the weight may be added to or taken from the rim as shown in my drafts. (m2) are the covers of the cross heads. (D) is the box which contains the engine, and (I2) are posts suspended from timbers (B2) in Fig. 1 and constitute part of frame and support of box (D). (E2) are the wheels, the forward ones to be about two feet and the hinder ones about three feet in diameter, or of a height that will not produce the draft from the lever above the draft level of a medium sized horse. (B2) are the timbers at each end of the engine box to which the axles and wheels are attached. (N2) are the cranks and (P2) are the connecting rods. (K) is the transferable wagon tongue, and the rest of the letters and figures have been described in Fig. 1.

(r2) are the piston rods, and (s2) are the Y guide rods of the cross heads.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the cylinder (A2) in which the boxes (t2) are hung, and in which t-he main power shaft (14) runs; and (B2) are the flanges by which it is secured to the ioor of the engine box.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of pumps; (V) is the ball or sphere valve and (p) the piston.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the main air chamber; and (W) is the aperture in the center through which the cylinder (A) and main shaft (14) pass; (u) is one of the conical valves which plays 0n a spindle which passes through it from the cross-bar, and said cross-bar is secured to its place by rods extending out from the valve seat;

-which valve seat is secured to the inside of the air chamber by flanges with the same bolts which secure pipe (e) to the outside of the same. (Z) is the valve cover.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the traversing block, showing the manner in which the main shaft (14) runs in it, and it is constructed in three parts and bolted together as shown in the drawing.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View of one of the hinged posts or supports of segments when turned down for use, of which there should be two or three for each; and care should be taken in placing the feet of them on a good basis that the segments may preserve a level with the rest of the track.

It is also obvious that this power is peculiarly adapted for the working of the fireengine as I have arranged it, inasmuch as they can both be built on the same carriage in a compact and portable manner, and the engine made to alternate with ease from one hundred to one hundred and sixty times a minute (in lieu of from 30 to 60 times by manual power) and throw with one or two or three streams a much greater amount of water a greater distance with much greater force than any other engine now in use; and it can be worked in a small area, and with ease any length of time required with the two horses required to draw it from place to place, and can be put in motion in a few moments by blocking the wheels7 turning down t-he segments and changing the horses from the wheels to the lever by drawing a pin which completes the chanical devices actuating the pistons, sub- 10 connection. stantially as, and for the purposes set forth.

I disclaim the several elements composing In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 1 my engine separately considered. signed my name before two subscribing wit- 5 But nesses. i Claim as new and desire to secure by Let- DAVID RUSSELL. ters Patent, Witnesses: The arrangement of the series of pumps, GEO. PATTEN, .v with the circular tram ways, and the me- JOHN S. I-IoLLINGsHEAD. 

